The upgraded version of Mazda’s
best-selling model worldwide,
the Mazda3, is now on sale from
Ł13,495 (on-the-road), which
includes a Ł2,300 saving (1.6 TS
model). Made exclusively in
Japan, the five-door hatchback
has more muscular visual appeal
with a new face, new rear bumper
and new twist-spoke alloy
wheels. Inside, there are new
materials and colours, improved
ease-of-use for the driver, new
equipment and a quieter cabin
for all to enjoy.

Fuel economy across the range is
enhanced thanks to the new
model’s refined aerodynamics
which cut Cd to just 0.29.
Handling is improved with the
upgraded Mazda3 delivering a
more consistent and linear
driving feel. New models
include two Sport derivatives
and new equipment includes a
gear-shift indicator (excludes
2.3-litre MZR DISI Turbo
engine).

“We anticipate that the upgraded
Mazda3 will enable us to
increase sales of our C-segment
contender during 2012,” comments
Peter Allibon, Sales Director,
Mazda UK. “Mazda3 was already a
great car and the changes to the
upgraded model are subtle but
every one makes a difference to
either fuel economy or driving
feel.

“The outgoing Mazda3 was the
second-best selling Mazda model
in the UK and took us into
different segments of the retail
and fleet markets. The 1.6
diesel has been hugely popular
and the 2.2 diesel with 185ps is
still the highest power
C-segment diesel model of any
brand available in the UK market
place,” adds Allibon.

“The introduction of the more
sporty exterior, more premium
interior and two new Sport
models with the 1.6 diesel
powertrain for 2012, plus
worthwhile fuel consumption and
CO2emissions
reductions, means we are
confident that the upgraded
Mazda3 will attract a growing
number of consumers to our
brand,” concludes Allibon.

When upgrading the Mazda3, the
company’s engineers fine-tuned
the suspension and steering to
deliver more ‘Toitsukan’ –
more linear steering feel for
more control and assured
predictability, plus a smoother
ride and improved refinement.
The super-efficient Mazda
1.6-litre diesel, available in
six versions of Mazda3, is a
lightweight, compact and
extremely efficient unit.

On
the inside, upgraded Mazda3
features updates to create a
more stylish interior that
retains its functionality and is
even easier to use. Designers
focused on reducing the amount
of eye-movement required to use
the car’s onboard systems from
behind the wheel. They replaced
the previous silver colour of
the lower dashboard console with
black, and ringed the dials and
controls most used by the driver
in satin-polish silver that’s
easier to see.

The 1.6-litre diesel models
offer ‘low’ CO2
emissions (115g/km) and a
combined cycle fuel economy of
65.7mpg. The CO2
figure means that the new models
slip in to the 17 percent
company car benefit-in-tax
bracket for diesel models in
2012/13.

The 150ps 2.2-litre MZR-CD
diesel model emits 139g/km -
reduced from 144g/km - putting
the model into the 21 percent
tax bracket in 2012/13, while
the 185ps 2.2-litre MZR-CD
diesel model benefits from a
5g/km emissions drop to 144g/km
putting it in the 22 percent tax
bracket in 2012/13.

Virtually the entire upgraded
range also benefits from fuel
economy improvements with the
150ps model receiving a 2mpg
boost to record a combined cycle
figure of 54.3mpg and the 185ps
derivative getting a 1.9mpg
improvement to 52.3mpg.

The CO2 output of the
1.6-litre MZR petrol model is
149g/km with combined cycle fuel
economy of 43.5mpg, the
2.0-litre MZR DISI petrol is
157g/km - due in part to the
innovative ‘i-Stop’ (Smart
Idling Stop System) - with a
combined cycle fuel economy of
42.2mpg.